Invensys awarded major contract for Thameslink programme

The rail arm of FTSE 250 technology group Invensys (LON:ISYS) has been selected by Network Rail to deliver one of the Britain's largest ever resignalling schemes at London Bridge Station and the approaching railway. The overarching contract, under which will be a series of individual commission contracts, begins in August 2011 and runs through to the completion of the Thameslink project in December 2018. The scope of Invensys Rail's work will encompass the detailed design, installation, testing and commissioning of signalling and telecoms systems. This includes the introduction of the company's ATO (Automatic Train Operation) and ETCS (European Train Control System) solutions, which will be overlaid in the London Bridge area to enable all train movements to be controlled automatically, delivering 24 trains per hour in each direction on the Thameslink core route at the programme's completion in 2018. The work forms a significant part of the post-Olympics phase of the Thameslink programme and is critical to delivering the increased rail capacity that London commuters so desperately need. Commenting on the contract award, Invensys Rail's UK managing director, Nick Crossfield, said: "Naturally we are absolutely delighted to have won this important work, allowing us to remain at the heart of one of Europe's most prestigious and technically challenging rail infrastructure projects. Having been so closely involved in the delivery of the Thameslink Key Output 1, our project team has built a detailed understanding of the complexities of the Thameslink area; we are now looking forward to continuing to work in close partnership with Network Rail and our fellow contractors to ensure the successful completion of this critical programme." Simon Kirby, Network Rail's director of investment projects, said: "This is a great example of how we are changing the way we work to encourage more innovation, deliver projects in a smarter way and get better value for money. By involving our delivery partners at an early stage, the industry will be able to deliver one of the most complex station, track and signalling projects being undertaken on the railway network in a generation.quot; The Thameslink Programme reaches a key milestone in December 2011, when the first 12-car trains begin to run through central London. The transformation of London Bridge station, and associated railway work, will get underway fully in 2013 and is scheduled to be completed in 2018. It will be the final piece of the Thameslink programme which will provide a much needed capacity boost to cater for increasing passenger numbers.